NTT Docomo said on August 14 that it has reached an agreement with Starlink Japan, GK to expand its direct-to-smartphone satellite service using next-generation Starlink Mobile V2 satellites. The Japanese carrier’s roadmap points to adding satellite voice calls and higher-speed internet browsing by fiscal 2028, alongside connectivity for direct Internet of Things (IoT) use cases—an escalation of a service that is already attracting early users.
The announcement centers on a shift from satellite connectivity that primarily supports data access toward a broader set of consumer and enterprise functions. Under the deal, Docomo intends to upgrade its existing “docomo Starlink Direct” offering, moving beyond basic satellite communications toward more interactive services. Specifically, the carrier framed the planned upgrades as enhancements that will include voice calling and faster mobile browsing, plus direct IoT links by fiscal 2028. The company also indicated the expansion plans are tied to its progress in subscriber adoption.
In the lead-up to the later-stage service upgrades, the carrier highlighted early uptake following the April 2026 launch. According to the context provided, docomo Starlink Direct reached 6.5 million cumulative users within three months of that April 2026 launch. That user milestone is presented as a trigger for what comes next: Docomo said it plans to add voice capabilities, improve internet browsing speeds, and incorporate IoT connectivity once the service reaches that scale.
While the immediate headline is the planned fiscal 2028 feature set, the strategic thrust is broader. Direct-to-smartphone offerings are increasingly viewed as a way to fill coverage gaps, reduce dependence on terrestrial network availability, and provide connectivity in environments where traditional coverage can be limited. Docomo’s willingness to build on Starlink’s mobile satellite architecture reflects an effort to lock in continuity and service breadth rather than treating satellite connectivity as a niche backup channel.
Industry context suggests this is part of a competitive shift among Japan’s mobile operators. Telecom analyst coverage indicates that Starlink Mobile’s second iteration—referred to as V2—has been preparing for rollout of its device-to-device (D2D) constellation, enabling services via a low-earth orbit (LEO) system. That reporting described the constellation as including about 650 satellites with 4G/LTE technology payloads already in orbit, underscoring how the satellite system is designed to interoperate with familiar mobile network capabilities. The same context also notes that Japan’s operators are racing to respond to rival moves in direct-to-cell connectivity, with KDDI having launched a national D2D service using Starlink previously and other players preparing their own introductions.
Beyond Docomo, the wider satellite-to-mobile ecosystem is tied to how quickly mobile operators can translate technical capability into commercial offerings. In SpaceX earnings commentary, company leadership discussed the evolution of Starlink mobile hardware and capacity. The transcript content points to a “massive step change” with V3 compared with earlier versions, and it references a near-term priority that involves launching mobile V2 satellites on Starship while later integrating additional spectrum after a transfer is completed. That spectrum transfer is described as having been approved by the FCC, framed as a “foundational competitive advantage” for Starlink mobile.
Even as the SpaceX comments reference the V3 step change, the practical implication for carriers like Docomo is that satellite mobile performance is set to improve over successive satellite generations—and carriers can align product roadmaps with those improvements. By choosing to proceed with Starlink Mobile V2, Docomo appears to be prioritizing a staged development path: first, driving adoption of direct-to-smartphone service, then layering on enhanced voice and data experiences, and finally extending connectivity into IoT deployments.
Docomo’s August 14 statement also fits a longer planning window that the broader market has been watching. Prior reporting from Light Reading indicated that NTT Docomo, alongside KDDI and SoftBank, had partnered with Starlink to supply satellites for their respective direct-to-cell offerings, while Rakuten Mobile had opted for AST SpaceMobile. That coverage placed Docomo’s rollout timeline in early FY2026 for direct-to-cell service—highlighting that the Japanese market’s satellite ambitions have been under development for more than a year, with commercial launches arriving and follow-on upgrades now in view.
As users increasingly adopt satellite-connected services, the threshold question becomes what “upgrade” means in practice. For Docomo, the promised improvements by fiscal 2028 are explicitly operational: voice calling and high-speed internet browsing, plus direct IoT connectivity. If achieved as described, the carrier’s satellite platform would evolve from an emergency-leaning or coverage-expansion layer into a more complete complement to terrestrial mobile service.
The deal’s wording also suggests that Docomo intends to continue scaling in a measured fashion rather than attempting to switch every feature on at once. By tying the planned enhancements to reaching 6.5 million cumulative users after the April 2026 launch, the carrier signals that both technology readiness and market demand are part of the sequencing.
For consumers, the most immediate value of satellite voice and faster browsing is usability—turning satellite coverage into something closer to everyday mobile experience. For businesses and IoT developers, direct IoT links could open new use cases in utilities, logistics, asset tracking, and remote operations where coverage can be inconsistent.
Docomo’s collaboration with Starlink Japan and the use of Starlink Mobile V2 satellites mark another step in Japan’s rapidly evolving satellite-mobile landscape. With adoption milestones already reached in the initial launch period, the carrier is now setting expectations for a next phase by fiscal 2028, when it plans to add voice, boost internet browsing speeds, and enable direct IoT connectivity—anchoring satellite communications as a more central element of mobile strategy.
SpaceX Q2 2026 webcast transcript
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